SciFiAndTvTalk

The Watch Premieres This Sunday (BBC America)

BBC AMERICA’s new original series The Watch premieres with two back-to-back episodes on Sunday, January 3rd, 2021 at 8pm ET. In addition, AMC+, the company’s new premium streaming bundle, will exclusively premiere the first episode of The Watch on Thursday, December 31, with additional episodes being added weekly timed their linear premiere on BBC AMERICA. Check out the trailer below!

The Watch follows an unlikely group of misfits, The City Watch, who are forced to find the guts to save the world, surprising even themselves in the process. The comedic yet thrilling series pits trolls, werewolves, wizards and other improbable heroes against an evil plot to resurrect a great dragon which would lead to the destruction of life as they know it. From lead writer and executive producer Simon Allen (The Musketeers), the modern and inclusive series is inspired by the characters created by Sir Terry Pratchett’s famous “Discworld” novels, including the captain of The City Watch Sam Vimes (Richard Dormer, Game of Thrones), the last scion of nobility Lady Sybil Ramkin (Lara Rossi, I May Destroy You), the naïve but heroic Carrot (Adam Hugill, 1917), the mysterious Angua (Marama Corlett, Blood Drive) and the ingenious forensics expert Cheery (Jo Eaton-Kent, Don’t Forget the Driver) together with The Watch’s own idiosyncratic depiction of Death (Wendell Pierce, The Wire). The series also stars Samuel Adewunmi (The Last Tree) as Carcer Dun, a figure from Vimes’ past, and Matt Berry (What We Do in the Shadows) voices Wayne, a talking sword.

His Dark Materials Renewed For Third Season (HBO/BBC)

Dafne Keen as Lyra in His Dark Materials. Photo courtesy/copyright of HBO & BBC.

HBO and BBC One have renewed the drama series His Dark Materials for a third season, it was announced today by Francesca Orsi, Executive Vice President, HBO Programming. Production on the eight-episode third season is slated to begin in Cardiff in 2021.

“Bringing Phillip Pullman’s epic, intricate and culturally resonant body of work to television has been a tremendous privilege,” said Orsi. “We thank our incredible partners at the BBC and the entire Bad Wolf team, led by the indefatigable Jane Tranter, for their exceptional work on the first two seasons. We look forward to completing the trilogy with this final chapter in Lyra’s journey.”

“It’s been a joy to see how His Dark Materials has brought British TV audiences of all ages together on BBC One and BBC iPlayer,” said Ben Irving, BBC Drama Commissioning Editor, Wales. “Fans of Phillip Pullman’s incredible books, and newcomers alike, have been enthralled by adventuring with Lyra and Will through multiple worlds. We are thrilled that they will be able to continue their journey in a third series of this beautifully realized drama. Our thanks to our partners at HBO and the dedicated creative team at Bad Wolf for making a landmark series that will continue to be watched and enjoyed on the BBC for years to come.”

“His Dark Materials has been a truly global TV experience and a personal career highlight,” said Executive Producer Jane Tranter. “The creative team at Bad Wolf in Cardiff made the impossible possible and brought Philip Pullman’s worlds into vivid life.  To see that hard work and dedication applauded and embraced by fans around the world has made all the hard work worthwhile. None of this would have been possible without the wonderful commitment and conviction of the BBC and HBO. I am excited, thrilled and honoured to be making the third part of Philip Pullman’s trilogy with their support and encouragement. Diolch”

Adapting Philip Pullman’s award-winning trilogy of the same name, which is considered a modern masterpiece of imaginative fiction, his Dark Materials returned for its seven-episode second season on November 16, 2020. The series follows Lyra (Dafne Keen), a seemingly ordinary but brave young woman from another world. Season two began as Lyra, distraught over the death of her best friend, embarks upon a journey in a strange and mysterious abandoned city. There she meets Will (Amir Wilson), a boy from our world who is also running from a troubled past. Lyra and Will learn their destinies are tied to reuniting Will with his father but find their path is constantly thwarted as a war begins to brew around them. Meanwhile, Mrs. Coulter (Ruth Wilson) searches for Lyra, determined to bring her home by any means necessary.
 
GQ called this season of His Dark Materials “a towering success,” while Paste Magazine hailed it as “more epic than ever before.” Mashable praised the show’s “absorbing cast,” while Slashfilm called this season “essential viewing.”

His Dark Materials will conclude its second season Monday, December 28 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO. Season one and season two episodes to date are currently available to stream on HBO Max. Most HBO subscribers in the U.S. have access to HBO Max as part of their HBO subscription and can visit HBOMax.com for more details. Season two series regulars include Dafne Keen, Ruth Wilson, Amir Wilson, Ariyon Bakare, Andrew Scott, Will Keen, Ruta Gedmintas and Lin-Manuel Miranda. New cast members this season included Terence Stamp, Jade Anouka and Simone Kirby.
 
His Dark Materials is produced by Bad Wolf in association with New Line Cinema for BBC One and HBO. Executive producing the series are Jane Tranter, Dan McCulloch, Joel Collins and Julie Gardner for Bad Wolf; Philip Pullman, Jack Thorne, Tom Hooper; Deborah Forte, Toby Emmerich and Carolyn Blackwood for New Line Cinema; and Ben Irving for the BBC.

Roswell: The First Witness - Episode Three Airs This Week! Watch Exclusive Clip! (HISTORY)

OCA archeologist Sarah Niskanen and Esperanza Juarez get to work on their archeological survey. Photo courtesy/copyright of The HISTORY Channel.

The HISTORY's Channel's three-part investigative series Roswell: The First Witness takes an unconventional look at the iconic 1947 Roswell, New Mexico crash with new evidence and a secret diary left by the first person to investigate the wreckage, Major Jesse Marcel. The investigation, led by former CIA operative Ben Smith, follows the grandchildren of Major Marcel and artifacts he left behind that may reveal what really happened at Roswell. Through the use of new advanced technologies, and never before heard personal stories and expert witness interviews, the Marcel family and our decorated team of investigators hope to cement the truth about this mysterious site once and for all.

The series follows the grandchildren of Major Jesse Marcel, the first person to investigate the wreckage. This new investigation is being led by Ben Smith, a former CIA operative. The family believes Major Marcel was forced by the U.S. government to deny he ever saw a UFO. The family possesses a diary found in the belongings of Major Marcel, which may contain coded clues to the truth of what happened at Roswell. The investigation follows a compelling trail of evidence that leads from the Roswell crash site to new revelations that key U.S. Army officers believed it was truly a UFO incident. We will also attempt to decode the diary for the first time. 

In episode three entitled The Writer, Ben Smith travels to Jesse Marcel’s hometown on Louisiana’s Gulf Coast to speak with family members who reveal information that supports Marcel’s story of a government coverup which Marcel himself never made public. Smith speaks with Leslie Kean, the investigative  journalist who broke The New York Times story about a clandestine U.S. government program to investigate UFOs. Smith also digs deeper into the mystery of the journal as he studies writing samples to determine if the journal  might have been written by one of Marcel’s fellow officers who later claimed he was ordered to oversee the military’s coverup. Back in Marcel’s hometown, Smith meets with a man who swears Marcel confided in him about alien bodies - something Marcel had never mentioned to the press or family.  As the results come back from soil, metal and forensic handwriting analysis, Smith shares his findings with the Marcel grandchildren who believe their grandfather was telling the truth. And one last bombshell revelation may point to the out-of-this-world-truth of what actually happened at Roswell. The Writer airs Saturday, December 26th @ 9:00 pm EST/PST on The HISTORY Channel. Check out the exclusive clip below.

Roswell: The First Witness is produced by Bungalow Entertainment and Blumhouse Television.

PG: Psycho Goreman Coming In January

In RLJE Films' horror comedy PG: Psycho Goreman, siblings Mimi and Luke unwittingly resurrect an ancient alien overlord who was entombed on Earth millions of years ago after a failed attempt to destroy the universe. They nickname the evil creature Psycho Goreman (or PG for short) and use the magical amulet they discovered to force him to obey their childish whims. It isn’t long before PG’s reappearance draws the attention of intergalactic friends and foes from across the cosmos and a rogues’ gallery of alien combatants converges in small-town suburbia to battle for the fate of the galaxy.

Written and directed by Steven Kostanski (The Void, The Divide, Father’s Day), PG: Psycho Goreman stars Matthew Ninaber (Transference), Nita-Josee Hanna (Books of Blood, 4teen), Owen Myre (NOS4A2, Alternate Ground), Adam Brooks (The Return, Father’s Day) and Steven Vlahos (Alien House, The Apprentice). The feature film opens in theatres on January 22nd, 2021 as well as becomes available On Demand and in Digital. Check out the trailer below!

Roswell: The First Witness - Episode Two Airing This Week! Watch Exclusive Clip! (HISTORY Channel)

Brig. General Roger M. Ramey, Commanding General of 8th Airforce, and Col. Thomas J. Dubose, 8th Airforce Chief of Staff, identify metallic fragments found by a farmer near Roswell, New Mexico. Photo courtesy/copyright of the Marcel family and The HISTORY Channel.

The HISTORY Channel's three-part documentary series Roswell: The First Witness takes an unconventional look at the iconic 1947 Roswell, New Mexico crash with new evidence and a secret diary left by the first person to investigate the wreckage, Major Jesse Marcel. The investigation, led by former CIA operative Ben Smith, follows the grandchildren of Major Marcel and artifacts he left behind that may reveal what really happened at Roswell. Through the use of new advanced technologies, and never before heard personal stories and expert witness interviews, the Marcel family and our decorated team of investigators hope to cement the truth about this mysterious site once and for all.

In Part 2, The Memo, a former CIA operative’s investigation into the Roswell crash arrives at a critical moment when the mysterious journal found among the possessions of Major Jesse Marcel undergoes a crucial test. As a US Army intelligence officer, Marcel was the first government official at the crash site. Investigator Ben Smith is taken to a secret location believed to be the real resting place of the airborne object, as a local archeologist finds evidence that a military cleanup may have taken place. A leading code-breaker continues his attempt to decipher the journal which may be written in a home-brewed code and contain hidden information about what happened at Roswell. And witnesses describe a series of bizarre events surrounding the now legendary crash, while an incredible new technology attempts to read words on a 70 year old photograph that may hold clues to the mystery: Did an extraterrestrial spaceship crash at Roswell? Take a look at the exclusive clip below from Part 2, which premieres Saturday, December 19th @ 9:00 pm EST/PST on The HISTORY Channel.

Roswell: The First Witness is produced by Bungalow Entertainment and Blumhouse Television for The HISTORY Channel.

Wrong Turn Coming To Theaters In January

In the upcoming feature film Wrong Turn (scheduled to be released in theaters on January 20th, 2021), backwoods terror and never-jangling suspense meet when Jen (Charlotte Vega) and a group of friends set out to hike the Appalachian Trail. Despite warnings to stick to the trail, the hikers stray off course—and cross into land inhabited by The Foundation, a hidden community of mountain dwellers who use deadly means to protect their way of life. Suddenly under siege, Jen and her friends seem headed to the point of no return— unless Jen’s father (Golden Globe® nominee Matthew Modine) can reach them in time. Screenplay by Alan B. McElroy and directed by Mike P. Nelson, Wrong Turn stars Charlotte Vega, Adain Bradley, Bill Sage, Emma Dumont, Dylan McTee, Daisy Head, Tim DeZarn and Matthew Modine. For Tickets and Information go to: www.FathomEvents.com  Be sure to check out the trailer below!

Condor Coming To EPIX

Premium network EPIX® today announced the U.S. debut of season two of the spy-thriller series Condor, from MGM Television and Skydance Television. Based on the novel Six Days of the Condor by James Grady and screenplay Three Days of the Condor by Lorenzo Semple Jr. and David Rayfiel, Condor follows CIA analyst Joe Turner (Max Irons) who stumbles onto a plan that threatens the lives of millions. Season one will run on EPIX starting in early March, followed by the U.S. debut of season two later in the year.

Joe Turner has always been conflicted about his work for the CIA. But when something he’s discovered gets his entire office killed, leaving Joe as the only survivor and forcing him to go on the run, the theoretical reservations he’s harbored turn into all-too-real moral dilemmas. Under pressure, Joe will be forced to redefine who he is and what he’s capable of in order to discover the truth and to stop a plot that threatens the lives of millions. In season two of Condor, shocking events back home force Joe Turner to face the demons of his past and return to the CIA’s tight-knit Virginia community to find a Russian traitor.

In addition to Irons, Condor season one also stars William Hurt, Leem Lubany, Angel Bonnani, Kristen Hager, with Mira Sorvino and Bob Balaban and special guest star Brendan Fraser. Season two stars Irons, Constance Zimmer, Alexei Bondar, Isidora Goreshter, Hager, Eric Johnson, Toby Leonard Moore, Jonathan Kells Phillips and Rose Rollins, with Hager and Balaban returning. 

The series is executive produced by Jason Smilovic, Todd Katzberg, Andrew McCarthy. David Ellison and Dana Goldberg for Skydance Television, Marcy Ross, Shane Elrod and Brian Walsh, John Weber and Frank Siracusa. Smilovic and Katzberg serve as showrunners. The series is produced by MGM Television & Skydance Television with MGM being the lead studio, in association with Paramount Television. Condor is internationally distributed by MGM. Check out the original official trailer below!

A Discovery of Witches - Season Two Coming In January (Shudder/Sundance Now)

Shudder/Sundance Now has announced the return of A Discovery of Witches for its second season beginning January 9th, 2021 with new episodes airing every Saturday. The highly anticipated return of the smash hit series based on the best-selling All Souls novels by Deborah Harkness. Season two sees Matthew (Emmy-nominated Matthew Goode, Downton Abbey) and Diana (Teresa Palmer, Hacksaw Ridge) hiding in time in the fascinating and treacherous world of Elizabethan London where they must find a powerful witch to help Diana master her magic and search for the elusive Book of Life. In the present day however, their enemies have not forgotten them. Returning for Season 2: Alex Kingston (Doctor Who), Valarie Pettiford (Half & Half), Lindsay Duncan (The Honourable Woman), Edward Bluemel (Killing Eve), Aiysha Hart (Line of Duty), Daniel Ezra (All American) Aisling Loftus (War & Peace), Trevor Eve (Waking the Dead), Owen Teale (Game of Thrones), Malin Buska (The Girl King), and Gregg Chillin (Da Vinci’s Demons). A SHUDDER/SUNDANCE NOW ORIGINAL SERIES.  (Also available on Shudder Canada). Check out the trailer below!

Secrets of Sulphur Springs Coming In January! (Disney Channel)

Secrets of Sulphur Springs, a time-travel mystery series for kids and families, premieres Friday, January 15th (8:00-9:00 p.m. EST/PST), with a special one-hour uninterrupted programming event on Disney Channel. Check out the teaser below!

Set in the fictional Louisiana town of Sulphur Springs, the series follows 12-year-old Griffin Campbell (Preston Oliver, "Chicago Fire") whose world has been upended by his father, Ben (Josh Braaten, American Horror Story). Ben has moved the family from Chicago to take ownership of an abandoned hotel property, The Tremont. The Campbell family, which also includes Griffin's mother, Sarah (Kelly Frye, Criminal Minds), and his younger twin siblings, Wyatt (Landon Gordon, Coop & Cami Ask the World) and Zoey (Madeleine McGraw, Outcast), moves into The Tremont in hopes of restoring it to the lively vacation destination it once was. On his first day at his new school, Griffin hears rumors that the hotel is haunted by the ghost of Savannah (Elle Graham, Swamp Thing), a girl who disappeared decades ago. He soon meets and befriends Harper (Kyliegh Curran, Doctor Sleep), a thrill-seeking classmate, and soon they discover a secret portal that allows them to travel back in time and uncover clues about the town mystery.

Coinciding with the series premiere, the DisneyNOW app will launch a casual game, Mystery at The Tremont, in which users can explore Sulphur Springs in an interactive adventure full of hidden objects, puzzles and mini-games.

Secrets of Sulphur Springs is from writer and executive producer Tracey Thomson (The Young and the Restless). Charles Pratt Jr. (STAR) is the executive producer. The series is produced by Gwave Productions, LLC, and carries a TV-G parental guideline.

The Watch - Coming In January! See Trailer & Key Art (BBC America)

BBC AMERICA’S newest original series The Watch has released a new full-length trailer (see below) and series key art (see above) prior to its two-episode premiere on Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 8pm ET/PT. In addition, AMC+, the company’s new premium streaming bundle, will exclusively premiere the first episode of The Watch on Thursday, December 31, with additional episodes being added weekly timed their linear premiere on BBC AMERICA.

The Watch follows an unlikely group of misfits, The City Watch, who are forced to find the guts to save the world, surprising even themselves in the process. The comedic yet thrilling series pits trolls, werewolves, wizards and other improbable heroes against an evil plot to resurrect a great dragon which would lead to the destruction of life as they know it. From lead writer and executive producer Simon Allen (The Musketeers), the modern and inclusive series is inspired by the characters created by Sir Terry Pratchett’s famous “Discworld” novels, including the captain of The City Watch Sam Vimes (Richard Dormer, Game of Thrones), the last scion of nobility Lady Sybil Ramkin (Lara Rossi, I May Destroy You), the naïve but heroic Carrot (Adam Hugill, 1917), the mysterious Angua (Marama Corlett, Blood Drive) and the ingenious forensics expert Cheery (Jo Eaton-Kent, Don’t Forget the Driver) together with The Watch’s own idiosyncratic depiction of Death (Wendell Pierce, The Wire).

The series also stars Samuel Adewunmi (The Last Tree) as Carcer Dun, a figure from Vimes’ past; Matt Berry (What We Do in the Shadows) who is voicing Wayne, a talking sword; Anna Chancellor (Pennyworth) as Lord Vetinari; and Bianca Simone Mannie (Homeland) as Wonse. Also appearing are James Fleet (Outlander) as The Archchancellor; Ralph Ineson (Chernobyl), who is voicing Sergeant Detritus; Hakeem Kae-Kazim (Dynasty) as Captain John Keel; Paul Kaye (Game of Thrones) as Inigo Skimmer, a.k.a. The Duke of Stab; Ruth Madeley (Years and Years) as Throat; and Ingrid Oliver (Doctor Who) as Doctor Cruces.

The Watch is a BBC AMERICA original series executive produced by Hilary Salmon (Luther), Ben Donald (The Mallorca Files) and Richard Stokes for BBC Studios, Rob Wilkins (Good Omens) for Narrativia, Simon Allen and Craig Viveiros (The War of the Worlds). Johann Knobel (Shameless) is series producer of The Watch, and Simon Rogers (Doctor Foster) is production designer. BBC Studios is handling distribution internationally.